Turf Paradise has received conditional approval from the Arizona Racing Commission to conduct a race meet from January 29 to May 4, with current owner Jerry Simms remaining in charge due to complications with the sale of the track, and the conditions of the approval relating to compliance with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.
‣ Turf Paradise received conditional approval from the Arizona Racing Commission to conduct a race meet from Jan. 29-May 4, with current owner Jerry Simms remaining at the helm due to issues with the sale of the track.
‣ The conditions for the licensure involve Turf Paradise complying with or getting a waiver from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority for the requirement of a 90-day advance notice before the start of racing, and the track also needs to be accredited in terms of safety standards.
‣ Despite the ongoing sale process and potential new buyers, it is unlikely that the commission will be able to finalize its vetting process of a new licensee before the planned end of the race meet.
T. D. Thornton reports that Turf Paradise has received conditional approval from the Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) to conduct a race meet from Jan. 29-May 4. However, the upcoming season won’t be run by the new ownership group reportedly trying to buy the Phoenix track for the last two months. Instead, Jerry Simms, the current owner of Turf Paradise, will remain in charge.
Simms and Arizona horsemen have had a strained business relationship for nearly two decades. Despite this, Simms promised at the Dec. 5 “emergency” AZRC meeting that he will stick around for at least the next five months. This is due to his deal to sell the track to Turf Paradise Land Trust encountering unspecified issues.
The conditions attached to the licensure by the AZRC involve Turf Paradise either complying with or getting the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority to waive its 90-day advance notice requirement. The Authority also needs to accredit Turf Paradise in terms of safety standards. Rudy Casillas, the deputy director of the AZRC’s racing division, noted that while Simms is still free to try to close on the sale of the track, it would be “highly unlikely” that the commission could finalize its vetting process of a new licensee before the planned end of the race meet.
Casillas also mentioned that they haven’t received all the required information from the potential new buyer. He doesn’t believe there will be any due diligence complications impacting the live race meet going forward. Regarding the HISA hurdles, Casillas admitted he can’t predict if they’ll waive the 90 days. If they don’t, the race meet will have to start at a later time, beyond Jan. 29.
Casillas added that AZRC representatives are in talks with HISA Authority executives who are in the state for the Global Symposium on Racing. He said that HISA has indicated they will try to work with the AZRC to move things forward. Unlike at recent AZRC meetings, no one from the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) testified during Tuesday’s meeting.
Simms, on the other hand, portrayed himself as a savior. He decided to run the meet because of the significant impact on stakeholders and the disruption of many people’s lives. Simms hoped his deal would have moved ahead, but it hasn’t. So, he put his retirement on the back burner and decided to do it.
Simms stated they’re complying with HISA and hope to have HISA out this week. He hopes they won’t hold them to the 90-day period of time. He also mentioned that HISA has its own criteria and hopefully they’ll give their approval. Simms assured that if the meet is approved and they run it, it will finish, even if the track is sold.
On Nov. 9, Simms told the AZRC that the ownership group wanting to buy the currently closed Turf Paradise was at the escrow stage of closing on the sale. Turf Paradise ended its racing season in May with a different buyer doing due diligence to purchase the property. Then on Aug. 1, Simms announced Turf Paradise wouldn’t be opening in November as scheduled for its traditional six-month meet.
On Sept. 18, the months-long purported sale with the first buyer was publicly declared dead. Then 10 days later, Simms announced a new buyer had suddenly emerged with a desire to purchase the 213-acre property and save racing at the 67-year-old track. In recent years, disagreements between the Arizona racing community and Simms have roiled in the courts and at racing commission meetings.
Turf Paradise has also been plagued by safety issues in recent seasons. At the Oct. 12 commission meeting, Simms and AZHBPA officers argued over whether extensive repairs were needed for the main track rail. However, a subsequent commission meeting on Nov. 9 noted progress to the facility’s upkeep, such as the turf course well pump being fixed and the grass getting much-needed watering, seeding, and fertilizations.
A release posted on social media by Turf Paradise after the commission’s vote noted that the track and AZHBPA have signed a contract for Monday-Thursday racing. Horses will be allowed into the stables Dec. 18, with training to start Dec. 26.
